Sharing this...I have received this in email many times, but it's always nice to read it again as a reminder...learn & enjoy! I have put down my feelings or thoughts at the moments beside each lesson...:)
Written By
Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. (yup..my life is good)
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. (trying my best not to hate anyone)
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. (so guys keep in touch with me...you never know when you'll fall sick :p)
5. Pay off your credit cards every month. (this i have been trying to do, only that income < bills, so yeah still paying)
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. (most of the time I don't care to win, can't be bothered, you think what you want, and I know I'm right! or i continue the argument just to irritate the other person...ahaks)
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. (done this with put...remember put?)
8. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it. (noted)
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. (EPF does this for me, but I think it won't be enough!)
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. (I never resist it, definately will take :p)
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It' okay to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. (yeah don't compare or even judge others, I'm still trying not too, hey I'm not perfect..at least I try...)
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. (yeah people, what's up with that? have some self respect...)
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. (doing this too!)
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the 2nd one is up to you and no one else. (I try to be a child at evey oppurtunity I get!)
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. (hmm...)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. (exactly...I hate to keep stuff in the showcase..most of our parents do that...)
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. (but I don't like wearing purple!)
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. (I remember this everytime something happens)
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, 'In five years, will this matter?' (never thought of looking it that way...gee thanks...)
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything. (can do, but can't forget! how? there's a scar each time...)
29. What other people think of you is none of your business. (I like this!)
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. (I believe in karma, what goes up must come down, just that I can't really tell when I'm up or down since its always a mix on every different aspect of my life)
32.. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles. (the problem with me is that I believe in fairy tales!)
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young. (I'm happy growing old...only that its depressing at times when you don't achieve certains goals, or when you start comparing! - again...don't compare!!)
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. (waiting for mine to happen :))
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. (I'm content with the ones I have)
41. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need. (bersyukur...and stop comparing!)
42. The best is yet to come. (still waiting...)
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. (been holding on to this..99% of the time)
44. Yield. (huh?)
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. (A beautiful gift)
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. So true, and I thank Allah for blessing me with the friends & family that I have today...